Key Facts
The “CBeeC Honey Project” is an urban beekeeping initiative led by Shunji Sakurazawa, a weather forecaster from CBC. Despite having no prior experience in beekeeping, Sakurazawa aims to harvest honey in Nagoya, Japan. The project began on April 23 on the rooftop of Nagoya Sakae Mitsukoshi, a department store located in the heart of the city. Approximately 10,000 Western honeybees (Apis mellifera) were introduced to the site, where they began collecting nectar from a 2-kilometer radius, including nearby Hisaya Odori Park and Nagoya Castle.
The project highlights the coexistence of urban environments and nature, as well as the potential for sustainable honey production in city settings. Events were held to engage the community, with participants noting the unique flavors of the honey, such as hints of cherry blossoms.
However, the project faced a challenge when rooftop construction at the Mitsukoshi building was scheduled to begin in June. This required the bees to be relocated. On the night of the move, the bees were carefully transported to a new location at Nagoya Gakuin University’s Shirotori Campus, approximately 5 kilometers away. The relocation process was overseen by Professor Akio Mizuno of Nagoya Gakuin University, who provided guidance on beekeeping practices. The bees, sensitive to vibrations, were moved with great care to minimize stress.
On the second day of the project, April 24, the team opened the hive to observe the bees’ activity. Worker bees, which make up 90% of the colony, immediately began foraging for nectar. The queen bee, marked with green for identification, was also located within the hive. The team added additional hive frames to accommodate the expected population growth and honey production.
Two weeks later, Sakurazawa monitored the bees’ activity around the new location, noting their presence in nearby parks and gardens, such as Shirotori Garden. Early signs of honey production were observed, with pollen visible on the bees returning to the hive.
The project also encountered challenges, including the threat of parasitic mites, which required careful management to protect the hive. Despite these obstacles, the team remains committed to nurturing the bees and producing high-quality honey.
Read more about the CBeeC Honey Project here.
The CBeeC Honey Project, initiated by CBC weather forecaster Shunji Sakurazawa, is an urban beekeeping effort in Nagoya, Japan. Despite no prior experience, Sakurazawa began the project on April 23 atop the Nagoya Sakae Mitsukoshi department store, introducing approximately 10,000 Western honeybees (Apis mellifera). The bees collected nectar within a 2-kilometer radius, including Hisaya Odori Park and Nagoya Castle, producing honey with unique flavors like cherry blossoms.
In June, rooftop construction necessitated relocating the bees to Nagoya Gakuin University’s Shirotori Campus, 5 kilometers away. The move, overseen by Professor Akio Mizuno, was conducted at night to minimize stress on the bees, which are sensitive to vibrations.
By April 24, the hive was active, with worker bees foraging and the queen bee, marked green for identification, located. Additional hive frames were added to support growth. Two weeks later, the bees adapted to their new environment, gathering nectar from nearby parks like Shirotori Garden.
Challenges included managing parasitic mites, which posed a threat to the hive. Despite obstacles, the team remains dedicated to sustainable urban honey production.
Read more about the CBeeC Honey Project here.
